Happy last day of October, friendly faces! Or, more accurately, Happy Halloween!! 😀
Do you have any exciting plans for the night? Mine include a couch, a big bowl of salted caramel popcorn, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. I remember always wishing that Halloween would fall on a Friday so that I could go out and have a crazy time without having to worry about waking up early the next morning, but this year all I want to do is veg at home and chill. But in my defence, this week has felt crazy long (as in… Monday felt like Friday long), and all I want is a weekend to rest and recoup.
On the flip side, October went by crazy fast, so if this monthly favourites post feels a little, err…. lacking… it’s because I’ve seriously been feeling like I’m wearing little blinders and unable to see anything outside of school and work. I think I might have to reevaluate my work/life balance next month…
I’m not even going to beat around the bush on this one… This month has been so hectic that I barely took notice of what I was eating, which isn’t ideal, but kind of unavoidable. It’s not that I’ve been eating poorly, but my meals/snacks have been pretty basic and label-free, so I don’t exactly have any exciting new finds to share with you guys just yet. Heck, even my blog recipes were lacking this month — I only managed four for Spoons and one for Savory!
Flourless Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Soft and Chewy Pumpkin Granola Bars
No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Granola for Savory Style.
I do have a little something to share on the beauty front, though. Remember how, last month, I professed my [ongoing] love for LUSH’s Seanik solid shampoo? Well, this month I’m professing my love for their Jungle solid conditioner…
Call me dense, but I didn’t even realize that Lush had a solid conditioner, and it wasn’t until Chelsea mentioned it that I went in search of it myself. I even asked the girl in the Lush store if it was a new product, and she looked at me like “uhhh… where have you been??” But, ignorance aside, I’m really happy to have stumbled across this conditioner because I love it. I wasn’t too sure what to think at first, since I’m someone who likes to pack on gobs and gobs of conditioner and this one barely felt like it was going on my hair, but it was definitely love after first wash.
Not only does it leave my hair feeling super soft and shiny, but it doesn’t weigh it down at all — and this is something I struggle with since my hair is super fine. The scent is a little on the herby side and it tends to linger for a while, but that’s a small price to pay for the awesomeness of the product. I definitely recommend checking this one out (and pairing it with Seanik!!).
Unfortunately, I don’t have any book favourites to share with you this month because the only ones I’ve been reading have been textbooks for school. Womp, womp. I will, however, say that I’m loving my new iPhone 6… but I already did a mini review of that so you can read it here if you’re interested.
With the craziness surrounding work and school, blogging took a bit of a back seat in October, but it still ended up being a pretty awesome month for Spoons!
- My flourless banana bread muffins went viral, and the huge influx of visitors actually made Spoons crash. I was blown away… and also close to ripping my hair out in frustration/anxiety.
- You guys first pushed Spoons to over 4k, and then to over 5k likes on Facebook! Thank you so much for your support, and hello, hello to all my new friends 🙂
- Love Grown Foods asked me to be one of their LOVE Bloggers, and I can’t wait to share more of their awesome products with you guys!
- Two trips to the mountains this month! Once to Jasper, and then once to Banff to visit Sam and Jo.
- Spoonified recipes included:
Here’s to an awesome (and more restful!) November! 😀
Tell me at least one awesome thing that happened in October!
What are your plans for Halloween?
More places to find me!
E-mail — [email protected]
Twitter — runwithspoons
Facebook — runningwithspoons
Pinterest — runwithspoons
Instagram — runwithspoons
Bloglovin — runningwithspoons
Well I moved to SF in October so that’s awesome I guess? 🙂
Halloween I ended up going to a party with Gina!! And um I wish I had all of my cooking things so I could make your apple cinnamon muffins!!
I can’t believe October is already over! Looks like it was a busy month for both of us, and busy is good! Here’s to an even better november 🙂
I hope November calms down for you! Maybe a snowfall would help! As long as I don’t have to go anywhere, I love the peacefulness and serenity of a snowy evening.
You and me both! I’m actually hoping for some snow soon so that I can start going snowboarding again 🙂
I know what you mean about things going on the back seat. I’m swamped at work right now, my commute is longer now that all the snowbirds are back & I’m focusing on my fitness more as in beginning to feel better (although I still have days of like to saw off my foot). I need to figure out a new balance otherwise things will get out of control real fast.
Awesome for October for me was my 20 mile final LONG training run for my marathon in 7 more days whoop whoop!! No plans for Halloween. Just got home from a work trip to New York yesterday and I am beat!! I do love seeing all the kiddos in their costumes though! I have been really interested in the Lush product, so thanks for sharing! I think I will give it a try!
Last night was super lame for me as well. I could have gone out and celebrated but I’m slowly recovering from being sick and the last thing I wanted to do was go out and drink and get crazy. Instead my boyfriend came over, we carved pumpkins (something he has been asking to do but I haven’t been up to since I was sick), roasted the seeds, and watched scary movies. It was oddly perfect.
Congrats on becoming a Love blogger! You totally deserve it. You’re like my fave blogger still. From the start, and continuing to be! I’m happy to be back reading! I’ve missed the blogging world while I’ve been gone, and I can’t wait to write again. I guess it took a broken ankle to get back into it;)
Sadly, I had to cancel my night out with friends since my broken ankle happened. I’m on crutches too, so I literally am useless hah.
Now can you just come on down to Victoria again, so we can meet up this time 😉
I don’t waaaannntt October to be over!
I hope November is a little more relaxed – this month looks fun, but crazy!
At the end of the day, it really is all about that work life balance. It’s not always easy, but definitely worth it in the end. I hope November brings you some relaxation and restfulness.
My Halloween plans entail passing out candy to the kiddos (right now) and then I’m meeting the in-laws for dinner in a half hour to celebrate my MIL birthday a few days early. I spent 14 hours at the office yesterday and another 10 today with plans to go in tomorrow so I’ll be honest, crashing on the couch with popcorn and a movie sounds like heaven right about now. Oh well, I can always chill on Sunday.
Aw, don’t beat yourself up for not posting as much, Amanda! Totally get it and school should definitely come first. I’m going to make your pumpkin chocolate chip granola bars tonight!
TBH October was a really, really rough month for me and my family and nothing super awesome comes to mind. Womp, womp. And now I have a killer sore throat, so I will be parking myself on the couch in pajamas and munching kale chips through a few Halloween movies (I’m a non-scary girl too!).
http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Awwr I’m sorry to hear that, Ella 🙁 Hopefully November will be better for you, and I hope you feel better soon as well!
….As if your granola addiction needs any more fuel to the fire.
Plans for halloween..it’s November 1 so Boom. Gone. Forgotten. Candy(less).
I will be spending Halloween at home this year or possibly answering my brother’s door for trick-or-treaters. I would like to go out but between my knee issues and the cold weather… I would much rather sit at home with coffee, a movie, and Tigger (Elmo in costume). Haha!
Take some time for yourself, girl! You cannot operate solely on work and school duties! I know it’s hard to find time but even if it’s an early morning trip to Starbucks, you deserve it!
Very good advice, and some that I hope to be putting into practice more this month!
PS – Elmo looked -adorable- in his costume 🙂
I hope things calm down for you a little bit so you can get back to your normal routine. I miss the recipes!
Heavens yes, this month had turbo wings to it! I don’t even want to wonder over to how can this year(!) be drawing to a close already.
And the recipes? Heck that looks like a good amount for a month – and that’s understating it. I -as a matter of fact- am yet to look pass the chocolate granola bars. Addicted.
Bestest thing in October: the little impluse holiday which was just incredible.
Mmmm, I could go for more hot chocolate in my life!
You did post some awesome recipes that I can’t wait to try it iut. Congrats on getting more people reading your blog! Halloween plans are to head out of town and visit family. I get to go trick or treating with my goddaughter. She has no idea so it’s going to be a great surprise.
I’m CONVINCED that when Apple rolls out the new phones, the software updates make the older phones go haywire. My iPhone 5 worked just fine until the 6 came out, now it is running terribly an dmy buttons dont seem to work anymore!
I’m always so, SO scared of updating the operating system on my phone because of how many things go haywire after it. I actually put it off for as long as possible and have to move the “Settings” button to the second page so that the little update icon isn’t constantly giving me the stank eye 😆
Soooo awesome thing that happened in October: I moved four hours away from you! That’s pretty awesome, right?
Yeaaaah it’s not too shabby at all 😉
Our halloween plans sound eerily similar, except I’m not going wild and breaking out the slated caramel popcorn like you are haha
And October was INSANELY busy for me too, as you know, but I expect November to be better, if only because I decree it since it’s my birthday month haha
I still need to try that Vegan Pumpkin Hot Chocolate! Speaking of hot chocolate, I saw spicy hot chocolate at Whole Foods the other day and almost bought it haha.
I’ve never tried it spicy (because my tongue is a wimp), but I actually hear that it’s really good!
Going home in the middle of the month definitely made it seem shorter than usual! And November, with finals coming up, will be even faster, I can imagine. Halloween = chick flick movie night! No horror films allowed. 🙂
October FLEW by… kind of feel like I did nothing yet I did so much! My favorite things were seeing my boyfriend. We’re being Mr and Mrs Claus for halloween!
I feel the same way this year. I much rather catch up some sleep! Thankfully we get an extra hour Sat. night! Woot woot!
You have been a busy bee this month! All of your hard work is paying off. Congratulations! Hopefully hosting costs aren’t dragging you down too much. 🙂
Well as of today, I am officially self-employed which is CRAZY but I guess also a good thing. 😉
That.is.so.EXCITING!!! 😀
This month flew by and it was quite awesome between Benji’s birthday, the Meet and Tweet and of course, the Runner’s World Hat Trick. I am getting excited slightly though for Thanksgiving! Love the food.
Oh I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels like they’re drowning in work! So. many. essays.
Remind me what a social life is again? Or just a general life for that matter, ha.
Hope you manage to get some rest soon, your Halloween plan sounds heaven to me! Can I join? I’m forcing myself to have a break and heading to a house party dressed as a corpse bride 🙂
I’m pretty sure I’d have to look up “social life” in the dictionary to tell you what it was 😛 And a corpse bride! That was another great movie by Tim Burton… Might have to pull that one out tonight as well!
You might have had only 4 recipes for October – but, lady, they ROCKED! Yay on your flourless banana muffins going viral – but sorry bout your ensuing techy difficulties.
One cool thing for me in October was having my first published post written for Fit Fluential on my beet love 🙂
Can you believe there’s less than 2 months till Christmas???!!!!
Hope your weekend is wonderful!
That’s awesome, Shashi! Congrats on FitFluential! 😀 And as soon as Halloween is over, my brain basically goes into holiday mode so I’m definitely counting down the days until Christmas!
Believe it or not, I’ve actually never seen the Nightmare Before Christmas! Halloween just ain’t my thang (as in, I can’t even watch the previews for any horror movie; I have to leave the room!)
All that pumpkin spice granola stuff looks divine! Lots of kid stuff for Halloween – school parties, parade, and trick or treating/friends party. It feels like it doesn’t end 🙂 And then the candy fights, of course.
My October has been a loong vacation! I’ve been to southern California for amazing weeks! I went ever forget that journey 🙂
I’m not going out for Halloween either. Even though it’s not that of a big deal here in Germany anyways, there are themed parties in clubs and so on but I’m not a big party girl all together. I guess I’m doing a movies night too!
A trip to southern Cali sounds amazing! Hope you enjoy a relaxing night 🙂
October has gone by SO incredibly fast, I don’t even know what I did this month!
I never knew Lush did solid conditioner’s either, I’m going to check them out on my next big shop 🙂
Happy Halloween! I think salted caramel popcorn and a nightmare before Christmas sounds amazing!! Hate that you have been so busy but it sounds like you have some great things in the works! Enjoy your day!!
Happy Halloween to you too, Sam! Hope you’re having an awesome one 🙂